South Florida

Experts Discuss Dating After Divorce: How Long Should You Wait?

In South Florida, the dating scene is alive and well. But where do people stand on dating after divorce? How soon is too soon after a split?

"I think it's pretty hard. I know several people who got divorced and were already in relationships after. Even a year is pretty soon after you get divorced," said Cait Dupree of Coral Gables.

"I think it's great and part of the recovery process and if you find someone you're interested in, go for it," added Javier Perez of Coral Gables.

Superstars Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton didn't wait long to announce they're an item soon after their marriages ended.

Family Therapist Dr. Teresa Albizu said there's no set amount of time you should wait to date after a separation, but she suggests at least six months.

"We know that we should not rush into something immediately after a traumatic event, in this case divorce, and that we should give ourselves time to adjust to this shake up that happened in their lives," Dr. Albizu said.

Divorce Lawyer Spencer West said getting back in the dating game can be a healthy way to move on. But he cautions, be smart with what you share on social media before the divorce is final. He says don't post it, unless you're comfortable with a judge seeing it.

"In court I've done it, and it's been done to my clients. You have blowups of Facebook status updates of husband who claims he has no money, is in court, standing next to his new Range Rover," West said.

The experts agree, don't be afraid to put yourself out there once you've healed, and date around for a while. No need to rush back to "I Do."

The advice changes a bit for those with children. You're urged to be more cautious about who you date and especially who you might introduce to your children. Divorce is typically more difficult for kids to process, so tread lightly.

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